Lilian’s POV
Consciousness returned to me not with the jarring, painful grogginess of my human life, but with the smooth, fluid grace of a predator opening its eyes in the dark.
I was enveloped in an absolute, staggering warmth. The heavy, suffocating scent of dark sandalwood, rich amber, and pure Alpha musk saturated every breath I took, wrapping my newly rewired senses in a blanket of undeniable safety.
As I slowly blinked my eyes open, the dim, flickering light of a massive stone fireplace cast long, dancing shadows across the vaulted ceiling of the Alpha suite. I was alone in the center of Alexander’s sprawling, king-sized bed, buried beneath a mountain of thick down comforters and heavy silk sheets.
A soft, contented sigh escaped my lips as I shifted my weight, realizing instantly
